Cheiloplasty (lip surgery), is a simple cosmetic procedure which gives the lips the volume and sensuality necessary for beautifying and rejuvenating the face.
This is a minimally invasive surgical procedure. In all cases performed under local anesthetic and takes an average of 20 minutes.
This treatment can be applied to increase or decrease the volume of the lips, or to correct congenital or acquired anatomical alterations.
There are 3 types of Cheiloplasty:
- Lip augmentation for thin lips or lips that have lost their volume due to facial aging.
The facial aesthetics experts at the ADONIS medical group perform lip augmentation using two techniques:
- Lip augmentation using fat deposits in the cheeks.
- Lip augmentation using hyaluronic acid
Both techniques offer excellent results: the lips acquire a natural, healthy, young and fresh appearance after augmentation cheiloplasty.
- Reduction cheiloplasty, a less frequent treatment for patients with overdeveloped lips that are not very harmonious with their other facial features.
- Corrective cheiloplasty for patients who have suffered alterations in their lips caused by tumours, trauma, burns or by congenital alterations such as a harelip.
Pre-operative evaluation
Communication is vital in order to achieve the goals that will satisfy the patient. During the initial consultation, patient will have the opportunity to discuss with the plastic surgeon about the treatment plan. The plastic surgeon will work closely to reach an agreement about the expectations of the surgical procedures involved and their long term outcome. Every patient is different, so a specific treatment regimen is planned to suit an individual’s need. The preoperative evaluation includes:
- Discussion about the treatment plan and options
- Medical conditions, drug allergies, and previous medical or surgical treatment
- Discussion about anesthesia and its risks
- Discussion about the likely outcomes of the treatment and any risks or potential complications
- Physical examination
- Photography for preoperative and postoperative evaluation.
Common risks of the lip surgery
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Poor wound healing
- Irregular healing of scars including contracture (puckering or pulling together of tissues)
- Residual irregularities and asymmetries
- Lip discoloration
- Lip contour irregularities
- Lip sensitivity
- Swelling due to blood clot or fluid accumulation
- Injury to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels or muscles
- Anaesthesia risks
- Possibility of revision or staged surgery
Post-operative expectations
During the initial healing phase, patient may experience swelling, numbness, discomfort, bruises and discoloration around the lip areas. These symptoms vary from each patient and they usually last for about 2-3 weeks. Instructions will be given on wound care, medications to apply or to take orally to aid healing and reduce the risk of infection and when to follow-up with the plastic surgeon. If sutures are used, they will be removed about 5-7 days after the surgery. As the swelling at the lip resolved, the healing will continue for several weeks and the final outcome of the surgery will be visible once the wound healed completely.
